RICK SMITH: Wildflowers, chickens and yoga

SAN ANGELO, Texas - Recent rain and a forecast for warmer weather can only be good for this year's spring wildflowers.

While Hill Country bluebonnets may now be few and far between, there's still hope for a fair season. They typically don't reach their peak until about April 15.

Meanwhile, if you want a sure thing, bluebonnets closer to home are up and blooming.

Miles bluebonnets

Want bluebonnets but don't want to drive for hours? Visit Miles, an easy 20-minute trip on U.S. 67.

Miles resident Jane Jeschke reports the town's Community Garden is full of bluebonnets.

"Every year we seem to get more and more," Jane said. Roy Smith, another Miles resident, "has been a wonderful caretaker of the garden," Jane said.

The garden is easy to find. It's on the north side of the highway, next to the antique tractor and a Stripes store.

Robert Lee bluebonnets

The 31-mile trip from San Angelo to Robert Lee on State Highway 208 winds through some interesting, hilly countryside.

And while bluebonnets along that highway are spotty, Beth Prather, librarian of the Coke County Public Library, said wildflowers closer to the city "are wonderful."

Just before reaching Robert Lee on Highway 208, turn left on "The Cutoff" (FM 2034). Beth said bluebonnets are popping up along the little lane.

After a few miles FM 2034 runs into the Sterling City highway (State Highway 158). Beth said bluebonnets are blooming along both sides of 158.

The best bluebonnets in the county may be in the Wilson Bryan Mini-Park, at Seventh and Austin streets by the Coke County Courthouse in Robert Lee, Beth said.

First Saturday at the Chicken Farm

I can't promise you'll find bluebonnets at the Chicken Farm Art Center this weekend, but the chicken feet alone are worth the trip.

The "First Saturday" celebration, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., is the perfect way to celebrate spring, music, art and laughter.

In addition to live music, art vendors, food and friendly people, the event includes spray-painted chicken feet. By following the feet, visitors can explore all corners of the far-flung art center. New, framed maps of the center will also help us find our favorite artists.

The Chicken Farm is full of surprises. Saturday will include a laughing yoga session/demonstration in the art center's courtyard.

Nalani DeMarco Clisset, an art center employee who will lead the session at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, explained what happens.

"You just laugh, for no reason," she said.

We know laughter does all sorts of good things for the body, but I didn't know our bodies don't care if we laugh because something's funny or force ourselves to laugh. It's all laughter.

The 20-minute session includes breathing tips and different ways to laugh, like clapping and laughing, pretending to ride a motorcycle and laughing like a running engine or letting your laughter pop out like popping popcorn.

Yoga mats and special clothing aren't necessary, she said.

Other San Angeloans, like Kathy Keaton, also teach the art of laughing, but there's just something especially funny about laughing outdoors, surrounded by chicken feet.

The Chicken Farm Art Center is at 2505 Martin Luther King Blvd. For more information, call 653-4936.

Rick Smith is a local news and community affairs columnist. Contact Rick at rsmith@gosanangelo.com or 659-8248.